61: Chapter 61 Cleverly Using Sect Rules to Temporarily Avoid the Edge

The Sect Rules were the foundation upon which the Lingyun Sword Sect was established; they were the iron laws that bound every Disciple. Even with his Elder uncle backing him, Zhao Wuji dared not openly trample upon the Sect Rules—at least, not in the open.

He needed to find the clauses in the Sect Rules regarding the reassignment of Medicine Boys and the rights of Disciples. Using these as a shield, he could righteously refuse Zhao Wuji's unreasonable demands, shifting the conflict from a personal vendetta to a matter of adherence to Sect law.

Lin Ye took a deep breath, submerged his spiritual sense into the Jade Slip, and began to search and study it clause by clause.

He read extremely quickly, yet with great focus. Soon, he found several key pieces of information:

"The reassignment of duties for Outer Sect Disciples, Medicine Boys, and menial laborers must be approved by the Deacon Hall of the affiliated peak and signed by the Deacon Elder before taking effect. No one may privately requisition or forcibly conscript them." (Lingyun Sword Sect Rules · Chapter on Duties》 Article 3)

"Disciples may not use their influence to bully others or forcibly demand their property or labor. Violators will be punished with whipping, confinement, or deduction of monthly stipends, depending on the severity of the offense." (Lingyun Sword Sect Rules · Chapter on Fellow Disciples》 Article 9)

"If Medicine Boys or menial laborers have objections regarding their duty reassignment, they may appeal to the affiliated Deacon Elder or request arbitration from the Law Enforcement Hall." (Lingyun Sword Sect Rules · Chapter on Appeals》 Article 1)

"Those who falsely accuse or frame fellow Disciples shall have their sentence increased by one degree." (Lingyun Sword Sect Rules · Chapter on Precepts》 Article 15)

Each Sect Rule, like the sturdiest of barriers, built up a line of defense in Lin Ye's heart.

He mulled over them repeatedly, confirming there were no errors.

Then, he took out a blank Jade Slip and recorded these key Sect Rules, along with Zhao Wuji's words and actions at the Liuyun Pavilion today (time, location, people, words), clearly, objectively, and without any subjective emotion. He especially highlighted the two points: Zhao Wuji "forcibly ordered the Medicine Boy to leave his original post without approval from the Deacon Hall" and "used his influence to bully others, issuing verbal threats."

After finishing all this, the sky was already approaching dusk.

He did not act immediately, but instead checked the record one more time. After confirming it was correct, he put away the Jade Slip, sat cross-legged in meditation, and adjusted his state to the optimum.

Tomorrow would be a test of his Heart-Nature, intelligence, and even his luck.

The next day, early morning. Lin Ye went to the North District to tend to the Ice-Heart Orchids as usual. His expression was calm, his movements steady, as if yesterday's events had never occurred.

Zhou Tong, Sun Yu, and Liu Xiaoying seemed to have heard something, as their gazes towards him were somewhat unusual, but none of them asked too much.

Just past the Chen hour (7:00 AM), a clamor came from outside the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Zhao Wuji strode in swaggeringly, bringing the two lackeys from yesterday. Following behind him was a middle-aged man wearing the attire of a Deacon Disciple, at the Qi Refining Stage 7, with a stern expression.

"Lin Han! The time has come, why don't you hurry up and follow me to report to the Profound Ice Garden?" Zhao Wuji's gaze swept across the herb field, landing on Lin Ye, his tone arrogant.

Zhou Tong and the other three hurriedly lowered their heads to bow, retreating to the side, not daring to make a sound.

Lin Ye put down the watering can in his hand and walked forward unhurriedly. He cupped his hands to Zhao Wuji and the Deacon Disciple respectively: "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao, and greetings, Senior Brother Deacon."

"Cut the crap! Hurry up and pack your things, and come with me!" Zhao Wuji waved his hand impatiently.

"Hold on." Lin Ye's expression did not change, his voice clear. "May I ask, Senior Brother Zhao, do you have the approval document from the Deacon Hall for transferring a Disciple to the Profound Ice Garden? And Elder Liu's signature?"

Zhao Wuji was stunned, clearly not expecting Lin Ye to dare ask such a question. He then flew into a rage: "Insolent! My uncle is the Law Enforcement Elder Zhao Kun; do you really need any documents to transfer a mere Medicine Boy? My word is law!"

"Please calm your anger, Senior Brother Zhao." Lin Ye's tone remained calm, yet carried an unquestionable persistence. "The Sect Rules state, 'The reassignment of duties for Outer Sect Disciples, Medicine Boys, and menial laborers must be approved by the Deacon Hall of the affiliated peak and signed by the Deacon Elder before taking effect. No one may privately requisition or forcibly conscript them.' Disciple Lin Han is under the orders of Elder Liu to guard the Hundred Herbs Garden. Without official documentation, I cannot comply."

"You... you actually dare to use the Sect Rules to suppress me?!" Zhao Wuji was so angry his face turned blue. He hadn't expected that a tiny Medicine Boy would be so "unappreciative" and actually trot out the Sect Rules.

The Deacon Disciple who came with him also frowned, his gaze toward Lin Ye holding a hint of scrutiny. Although he was called by Zhao Wuji to "hold the line," the Sect Rules were strict, and he dared not openly violate them.

"This Disciple is only acting according to the rules and dares not violate Sect law." Lin Ye was neither humble nor pushy.

"Good! A fine 'acting according to the rules'!" Zhao Wuji laughed in extreme anger. "Then today, I will take you down on the charge of 'neglecting duties and contradicting a Senior Brother' and send you to the Law Enforcement Hall to be punished! Junior Brother Li, take him down for me!"

The Deacon Disciple surnamed Li hesitated. Zhao Wuji's uncle was indeed a Law Enforcement Elder, but what Lin Ye said was also reasonable. Moreover, Elder Liu...

"If Senior Brother Zhao wishes to charge me with a crime, please produce evidence. Since I began my duties, I have been conscientious, the herb fields I am responsible for are growing well, and Elder Liu has even praised me. As for contradicting a Senior Brother..." Lin Ye took the recording Jade Slip from his robes and presented it with both hands. "Yesterday, at Senior Brother Chu Yun's Liuyun Pavilion, Senior Brother Zhao's words and actions were recorded here by this Disciple. For the rights and wrongs, I ask Deacon Li, and the Sect law, to judge."

Deacon Li took the Jade Slip, scanned it with his spiritual sense, and his expression changed slightly. The record in the Jade Slip was clear; Zhao Wuji's forced transfer of personnel and threatening words were irrefutable. If it really went to the Law Enforcement Hall, while Zhao Wuji might not receive a heavy punishment, a label of 'using influence to bully others and failing to follow Sect Rules' would be unavoidable, and it would also damage the reputation of his uncle, Elder Zhao.

Zhao Wuji also saw the Jade Slip, a flash of shock, anger, and malice in his eyes. He hadn't expected Lin Ye to be so difficult to deal with, having been prepared all along.

"Junior Brother Li, what are you waiting for? Destroy this Jade Slip and take down this boy who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!" Zhao Wuji hissed.

Deacon Li struggled inwardly. Destroying the evidence and forcibly taking the person would certainly please Zhao Wuji, but if Lin Ye appealed afterward, or if Elder Liu or Chu Yun made a fuss, he, as a Deacon Disciple, would likely suffer the consequences. Was it worth it for a Medicine Boy?

Just as he was hesitating, a cold, clear voice came from outside the garden: "What is the cause of this clamor here?"

Everyone turned their heads, only to see Elder Liu standing at the garden gate, no one knew when he had arrived. His expression was calm, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Greetings, Elder Liu!" Zhou Tong and the others hurriedly bowed. Zhao Wuji and Deacon Li also felt a jolt in their hearts and bowed respectfully.

Lin Ye felt a slight reassurance. He stepped forward and bowed, saying: "Reporting to Elder, Senior Brother Zhao Wuji wishes to transfer this Disciple to the Profound Ice Garden, but there is no document from the Deacon Hall or Elder's signature. According to the Sect Rules, this Disciple dares not leave without authorization. Senior Brother Zhao claims this Disciple was insolent and wishes to take this Disciple to be punished. This is a record of yesterday's events, please have a look, Elder." As he spoke, he respectfully presented the Jade Slip (a copy).

Elder Liu took the Jade Slip, scanned it with his spiritual sense, his expression unchanged, and looked at Zhao Wuji: "Nephew Zhao, is this true?"

Zhao Wuji braced himself and said: "Uncle Liu, this Junior is indeed in urgent need of someone proficient in ice-attribute spiritual power to tend to the Profound Ice Fruit. Hearing that this boy excels in this, I wished to requisition him. The procedures... the procedures will be completed by this Junior later."

"Oh? The Profound Ice Fruit is a Tier 2 Spiritual Plant, extremely precious, and should naturally be tended by a specialist. Since you have a need, you may apply to your uncle, Elder Zhao, and have the Deacon Hall issue a document; this old man would have no objections. But to forcibly order a transfer without documentation, and even resort to verbal threats, violates the Sect Rules and is not something a Cultivator of our generation should do." Elder Liu's tone was calm but carried an unquestionable authority.

"It is... it is this Junior who considered things poorly and acted rashly." Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth and lowered his head, hating him deeply in his heart, but not daring to act presumptuously before Elder Liu.

"Since that is the case, this matter ends here. Lin Han, since you are responsible for the North District of the Hundred Herbs Garden, you must tend to it well and not be negligent." Elder Liu looked at Lin Ye.

"This Disciple obeys." Lin Ye replied respectfully.

"Nephew Zhao, if there is nothing else, please return. The Hundred Herbs Garden is a place of tranquility and is not suited for clamor." Elder Liu issued an order to leave.

"This Junior takes his leave." Zhao Wuji's face was livid. He glared fiercely at Lin Ye, then took Deacon Li and his lackeys and slunk away.

Zhou Tong, Sun Yu, and Liu Xiaoying kept their heads down, not daring to breathe loudly, their view of Lin Ye completely overturned. This new Medicine Boy not only had remarkable talent in Alchemy, but he could even stand up to a wastrel like Zhao Wuji, and even had Elder Liu personally come out to mediate... incredible!

Elder Liu glanced at Lin Ye once more, a hint of imperceptible approval flashing in his eyes, before flying away on his sword.

The storm had temporarily subsided.

Lin Ye returned to the North District and continued to tend to the Spiritual Plants, as if nothing had happened. But he knew in his heart that after this incident, he had thoroughly offended Zhao Wuji, and he would need to be even more careful and cautious in the Sect in the future.

However, he had also shown everyone that he was not a soft persimmon that could be squeezed at will. The Sect Rules were his sturdiest shield.

A few days later, this matter quietly spread among the low-level Disciples of Danxia Peak. The name Lin Han began to be remembered by some interested parties.

After hearing about it, Chu Yun specifically sent a message to Lin Ye, expressing his apologies and admiration, and once again tactfully offered to recruit him, stating that if Zhao Wuji were to pressure him again, he could provide protection.

Lin Ye politely declined, saying only that he wished to focus on his own duties and did not want to create extra trouble.

Chu Yun did not force the issue, but his attitude became even friendlier, and occasionally he would send messages to exchange insights on Alchemy.

Lin Ye's life seemed to return to normal. Tending to Spiritual Plants, attending lectures, cultivating, and occasionally being called by Elder Liu to help out. His cultivation was steadily improving, and his attainments in Alchemy were becoming increasingly profound.

However, the tree wanted to be still, but the wind would not cease.

On this day, Lin Ye was in the Dao Preaching Hall listening to a Foundation Establishment Alchemist lecture on "The Matching and Manipulation of Earth Fire and Pill Furnaces," and he was listening with rapt attention.

Suddenly, a rapid bell chime came from outside the hall, ringing nine times in succession, the sound shaking the entire peak!

"It is the Emergency Assembly Bell! All Disciples, quickly assemble at the Danxia Plaza!" The lecturing Alchemist's expression changed, and he immediately announced the end of the class.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what had happened, but they dared not delay and swarmed toward the Danxia Plaza at the peak.

Lin Ye followed the crowd to the plaza. At this moment, thousands of people had gathered on the plaza, most of them Disciples in the Qi Refinement Stage, but there were also many Deacons and Elders in the Foundation Establishment Stage, all of them wearing solemn expressions.

On the high platform, the Peak Master, Master Zi Xia, did not appear. Presiding over the event was a black-robed old man with a rigid face and a deep, thick aura—it was none other than the Law Enforcement Elder Zhao Kun, Zhao Wuji's uncle.

Zhao Kun's gaze swept over the crowd below, his voice cold and hard, spreading across the entire venue: "Silence!"

"By order of the Sect: Recently, there have been frequent unusual movements of Yao Beasts in the northern 'Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range', with suspected signs of a high-level Yao King emerging. To prevent future trouble and investigate the truth, the Sect has decided to have each peak select elite Disciples to form a 'Mountain Patrol Team' to penetrate three hundred miles into the outer perimeter of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range for a one-month mission of patrol, suppression, and resource exploration!"

"Danxia Peak is required to select twenty Disciples in the Late Stage of Qi Refinement and fifty Disciples in the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement. Prepare immediately and depart in three days!"

Once these words were spoken, the crowd below was immediately in an uproar.

The Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range! That was one of the two most dangerous places in the Tianfeng Kingdom, equal in fame to the Beiming Cold Abyss, where Yao Beasts ran rampant and danger was everywhere. Penetrating three hundred miles, even in the outer perimeter, often had Tier 2 or even Tier 3 Yao Beasts appearing. For Qi Refinement Stage Disciples to go in was no different from licking blood off the edge of a blade!

In the past, such missions were mostly the responsibility of the main peak, "Lingyun Peak," and the combat-specialized "Tianjian Peak" and "Shenbing Peak." Danxia Peak focused primarily on Alchemy and was rarely called upon to provide so many people.

"Silence!" Zhao Kun shouted sharply, suppressing the noise in the venue. "This is a Sect order, there must be no mistakes! Each Deacon shall immediately draft a list and report it to this seat for approval. Those selected must not shirk their duties; violators will be treated as traitors to the Sect!"

"Additionally, to supplement the logistics and support of the Mountain Patrol Team, ten Medicine Boys or menial laborers in the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement who are proficient in pharmacology or have special skills will be selected from the various herb gardens and pill rooms to accompany the team, responsible for Spiritual Plant collection, initial treatment of the wounded, and Medicinal Pill supplies. The list is as follows—"

Zhao Kun began to read the list. When he read, "Hundred Herbs Garden, Medicine Boy Lin Han," Lin Ye's heart sank abruptly.

Sure enough, what was meant to come had come. Zhao Wuji's revenge had descended in this "righteous and open" manner.

To stuff a Medicine Boy at the Qi Refining Stage 5 (as displayed to the outside world) into the perilous Mountain Patrol Team was perfectly justified. Even if he died out there, he could only blame his own bad luck and insufficient cultivation.

On the high platform, after Zhao Kun finished reading the list, his gaze seemed to sweep over the direction where Lin Ye was, intentionally or unintentionally, cold and ruthless.

Many sympathetic, pitiful, or gloating gazes were cast from those around him.

Chu Yun stood not far away, his brows tightly locked. He looked at Lin Ye, wanting to say something but stopping, eventually turning it into a sigh. In the face of such Sect orders and great trends, individual power seemed so insignificant.

Zhou Tong, Sun Yu, and the others also heard the list, their eyes complex as they looked at Lin Ye. Liu Xiaoying was even more terrified, her little face turning pale.

Lin Ye stood where he was, his expression calm, but the fists inside his sleeves were already quietly clenched.

The Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range... the Mountain Patrol Team... It seems that this peaceful life of Alchemy cultivation is about to be broken again.

Very well. Flowers in a greenhouse cannot withstand the wind and rain. True powerhouses need to be tempered in blood and fire.

The Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, while dangerous, also implies... Opportunity.

Three days later, at the Danxia Peak mountain gate plaza. The seventy selected elite Disciples (twenty Late Stage, fifty Middle Stage) and the ten auxiliary Medicine Boys and menial laborers had already lined up. Everyone had a solemn expression, many wearing standard Dharma robes, carrying blades and swords on their backs, their auras sharp and fierce.

Lin Ye stood at the very end of the ten auxiliary personnel, wearing ordinary grey Medicine Boy attire and carrying a simple knapsack (to keep up appearances; important items were in his Storage Pouch and twin rings), looking completely inconspicuous.

Leading the team were two Deacons in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. One was surnamed Wang, with a cold and stern face, from Tianjian Peak, clearly the combat main force. The other was surnamed Sun, with a kinder face, from Danxia Peak, responsible for logistics and Medicinal Pill support.

Elder Zhao Kun personally arrived to give a lecture, which was nothing more than clichés like "Fight bravely, investigate the truth, and do not flee in the face of battle." Zhao Wuji also stood to the side, looking at Lin Ye, a cold, sinister smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

After the lecture, Deacon Wang gave the order, and the eighty people boarded several huge, rune-inscribed "Cloud-Piercing Boats." The Cloud-Piercing Boats shone brightly, soared into the air, and carrying everyone, sped away toward the northern horizon.

Lin Ye stood at the stern of the boat, looking back at the gradually shrinking Danxia Peak and the mountain gate of the Lingyun Sword Sect, his eyes calm yet carrying a hint of sharpness.

This journey is a crisis, but also a turning point. Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, I am coming.